Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Alaska commercial fishing news and notes
About me
- Deckboss
- I'm a journalist covering Alaska's commercial fishing industry. My real name is Wesley Loy. Reach me at wloy61@gmail.com.
Alaska commercial fishing news and notes
35 comments:
Less than 300 voting.. Please close it down. No future for this organization, only thing keeping them going is the mandatory 1 percent tax
but their going to start marketing Bristol bay sockeye this summer - cant stop now
Low voter participation is not confined to RSDA elections. Take a look at the voter percentage in off-year congressional & state elections. If you were to shut down the RSDA you would be left with Aifma, or now, the re-branded Bristol Bay Fishermen's Association. With a membership of about 150 permit holders out of 1,850, they simply have no revenue to have much of any influence. Other than a new name and a new logo, they may want to re-brand (replace) their leadership, if they want to grow their membership.
Perhaps it's best that RSDA's can't lobby or focus on prices. Every time Aifma has attempted it, (strikes, price fixing lawsuits, a processor conspiracy around every piling) it's been a complete disaster.
The last strike was more than a generation ago and it was not an aifma strike, but a community-led strike. Get your facts straight and also grow up.
If you vote out RSDA your 1% then automatically goes to ASMI. Then the money goes to generic marketing of all Alaska salmon. I would rather have the branding of our Bristol Bay salmon.
What group of producers doesn't market their product. Think of Visalia Onions, Pistachios, Washington apples, Florida oranges, etc
That's it 831 am, low voter percentage and participation percentage.
Membership in the Bristol Bay Fisherman Association at 150 members
BBRSDA having only 320 participate in last election for the board seats.
Seems to be a little disconnect among the 1850 Bristol bay salmon permit holder base ,such that I guess the only thing that they know how to do is bitch !
When comes it comes to issues that concern Bristol Bay or state and federal politics, it takes participation amongst the constituents to be involved to try make it right for the majority.
I guess in general maybe me and you could agree that last years price wasn't a fair price considering the market for sockeye today? Could we agree that in todays politics that around every piling there is bad trade deals ,that persuasion with big money in are government's and businesses dictating policy?
So 831am if any of these thoughts that I have mentioned , you will either agree or disagree . The one thing that I know we agree on is that RSDA can't lobby or focus on price. So if you have some balls find out when the next Bristol Bay Fishermen Association meeting is ,show up bring your radio group and pay your dues$ and speak your bitch or your concerns. It takes membership and participation to lobby and focus on price . BBFA is there, get involved.
to 7:42am... your statement is incorrect. If fishermen vote to terminate the 1% tax that is collected for the RSDA, the tax would no longer be collected. In the past we had a 1% tax go to ASMI, which ended when the processors took over ASMI (i.e., fishermen's board presence was restricted and majority of board was given to processor control). Fishermen are confused enough about BBEDC, BBNA, BBRSDA, BBFA, etc., so I just want to clarify and stem any misinformation. AGAIN.... fishermen are no longer paying an ASMI tax, and will not pay any taxes to ASMI if the 1% BBRSDA tax is terminated by a vote of the fishermen. Erick Sabo
I too concur with the above writers opinion, get involved, get out or quit your whining, how pathetic you sound. Kudos's for your humor, wit, and polite factual reply. Fair winds and full holds for all!
1244,
Right On Point, Get involved in the Association, you are already paying your dues, treat your fish like you were going to eat them yourself, You guys have such a natural resource, make them worth more money.
If you don't have any Bristol bay sockeye, go buy some and eat it.
Vacuum packed Sockeye, $7.99 a pound. what a deal.
I cooked for 12 people at work 2 weeks ago. One fellow said it didn't even taste like fish! And he sport fishes a lot. Just sayin, so go put a fork in it.
I'm eating 2 nice piece right now "at work" It's GREAT.
Now let's go catch some more in a month or two.
It's crystal clear that the current AIFMA leadership, Mr. Harsullia, in particular, has done very little to inspire new membership. In fact, AIFMA is barely hanging on. At the point that they recognize it - internally, at a board level, then, they will contemplate some difficult choices and clean house. Especially, if they are sincere in actually developing an association that will appeal to the bulk of the drift community. Until then, the numbers speak for themselves and so does their record.
Frankly, I'm not aware of anyone who actually takes them seriously.
Seriously, the name is spelled Harsila.
David Harsila,is a good guy, trying to do what he can, to help elevate the quality of product coming out of BB. He also does what he can about education of fishers in BB, concerning how to get involved on a state & federal level of fish politics. Question? What is the difference between a BB drift fisher & a puppy?
Answer: The puppy quits whining, after 6 weeks.
Let's get a few facts straight:
To 6:35 pm "The last strike was more than a generation ago and it was not an aifma strike, but a community-led strike."
Regardless of claims to have led the strike, it's pointless to strike for salmon. They have never worked and never will for here today, gone tomorrow fisheries. Nobody is going to represent me and tell me to fish or sit. Never! We are independent business operators. Go ahead and strike. There will be more fish for me and the other realistic fishermen.
To 12:44 pm "I guess in general maybe me and you could agree that last year’s price wasn't a fair price considering the market for sockeye today?"
We are not paid for what the price in the market place is today. We are paid for the price at the time it's sold. Look back at your paper work when you purchased your boat and permit. Tell me where it says "You will be paid a fair price for your fish" It doesn't exist and never will. You're gambling each year. Two years ago our price was huge. We were overpaid given the market for sockeye at the time.
Furthermore, why is it so important to you guys to have a posted price before fishing? I've been fishing since 1977. Each year we receive an advance with adjustments throughout the year. It's the way it is and always will be.
You are like tourists that go to Hawaii and complain that it rains every day.
11:24. Diplomacy is the art of saying "good doggie" while looking for a bigger stick.
7:27 AM is right on all counts. The one comment I would make is that the price paid two years ago was an effort by the established processors to keep boats from joining Silver Bay. The market did not warrant that price. And predictably, the processors failed, as Silver Bay now has the premier fleet and will be the biggest buyer in the Bay. Not going to get a windfall like that again any time soon.
Yep , that is why we are where we are! One selfish independent bad apple that is so greedy that they would probably throw you the anchor when you drowning just to say they shoveled more "Shit " than you!
7:27 your and idiot. Go fish for whatever your processor will pay you and have no chance of nagociations or collective bargaining is your way to go about it. It's like the idea of togiak last man standing and getting payed $50 per ton and being the last two gillnet boats out there Like this year. People who think like you are what got us in this situation and who will keep us in this low price world.
There is absolutely no reason why we are not getting $1.50 or more per pound. Don't try to play smart and talk all this market and wholesale price crap. We have all been down this road many times and have been told everything in the book. Have some balls and just see what might happen if we did strike and asked for a fair price.. $1.50.. But no, your a greedy pig and we will just have to wait for you to die or leave the fishery like the last bunch from 26 years ago. You dumb bastard sell out, stay home and retire from that shit job you have for the rest of the year for your not a fisherman, I can see through your teacher glasses.
I vote to terminate any association that Erick Sabo voluntarily joins. Relentless misguided love child of Don Quixote and Jim Jones.
and sbs will control y'all like those b4 them - deja vu all over again; lipstick on pig - still pig yada blah blah blah
Amen!
Let’s dissect the comments by Mr. 8:01 PM
"your and idiot" That itself is idiotic. "You're an idiot" is correct. “Your” is not the same as “You’re” (you are). The "Y" should be capitalized as it's the beginning of a sentence.
The word is spelled "negotiations" not nagociations. I suppose "nag" is the root for what you do.
Collective bargaining? Tell me when this has worked for any salmon fishery. I trawl pollock and cod. Striking for these species is only slightly more successful than salmon. Crab, blackcod and halibut strikes are actually quite successful. Oh, by the way, those fisheries are rationalized or managed with IFQ’s. Gee wiz, could ownership of the resource be where the power lies?
togiak is a noun, therefore capitalized "Togiak"
$50/ton? That's actually a bargain. The processors should be charging fishermen $50/ton to take it. There’s no money in it. Especially Togiak herring.
"Don't try to play smart and talk all this market wholesale price crap"
Really? Understanding that salmon is a commodity and subject to price fluctuations due to global supply, demand and currency exchanges is simply idiotic.
I'm a business man therefor I must be a "greedy pig" You suggest I sell out and retire from that shit job? Obviously you feel fishing Bristol Bay is a shit job for there's no value as it's currently run. I averaged over $.82/lb. for last year’s fish. That's much better than all the crying about $.50/lb. With over 200k lbs. last year I consider that a pretty decent return for a 5 week fishery. The beauty is it allows me to wallow in other ventures the rest of the year.
Me a teacher? No, I'm simply one who's been taught.
Mic drop^^
Wesley. Seriously. While I may be a bit confused on how Mr. Harsilla (Harsuilla) spells his name, there is no gray area surrounding the 30 year legacy of Aifma. It seems that every word out of their mouth is focused on recruiting new members - so as to obtain their membership fee - without really articulating what is new and different in their approach to representing the drift community of Bristol Bay. If you want anyone to "buy, what you're selling," there should be some outreach along those lines. To simply join, for the sake of joining, rings a bit hollow; Almost to the point, that one can assume that it's business as usual. Which, if that's the case, the marketplace has already spoken.
Hooking your wagon and your membership fees to a bunch of angry white guys, who have zero influence in shaping the dynamic of Bristol Bay is a fool's errand. As a second generation Bristol Bay fisherman, who inherited my operation from my family, I have had plenty of time to consider joining Aifma. It will take a bit more than a new logo and a plea from some of their membership. How about a plan of action? A demonstration of your influence?
All I see is a bunch of pissed off "has beens," who have had their 15 minutes of fame and squandered it.
5:27. That's right, a teacher. Stay with it and walk away from Bristol bay please, the problem is guys like you.
It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.
Albert Einstein
"In the sailboat days, the professional, year-round fisherman was an expert and far superior to the modern "part timer." The present day school teaching, moonlighting, gadget depending, garage-mechanic type of fisherman did not appear until the sailboats were eliminated."
Gus Dagg
"When the dogs show up the season is over."
Ray Paddock
http://www.nature.org/media/alaska/alaska-bristol-bay-sailing-for-salmon.pdf
A lot of angry Bay fishermen comments, imagine how intense the fishery will be this coming season.
5:27 business man, Collective bargaining worked in the 60's and early 70's. for the Bristol bay salmon fishery's. Yes striking for cod and pollack does work better, along with crab ,blackcod and halibut. One reason why is that those species generally don't swim away like salmon do. Second reason why is that there is unity in those fisheries. There is ownership in both fisheries .I believe that you can't have IFQ in a salmon fishery that is predicted run, it could be higher or lower run than predicted? One question to you mister business man is compared to the price that you were paid on your ,cod, pollack, halibut , blackcod and crab, to the $,82/lb you received for last years salmon. How different is that price compared to the price at the super market? I guess what I asking is I think there is a better margin on the Bristol bay salmon ?
As for the demand for Bristol bay Sockeye I believe it is growing ,I hope you do too? Currency exchange rate , last year (June,15) all the world banks were found guilty of manipulating currency's,( goggle it if you like ). Fined in the billions, paid to the government and not to the producers that were hurt by it. It has been going on for years. I believe it still going on today.
The power lies with unity, manipulation weakens power. Again the column is about the BBRSDA, they cannot lobby or focus on price. The pebble mine is back in the news, the demand for sockeye is up. You claimed you were paid $.82lb ? So I would assume that you fish for Leader creek ? I believe that is the most globally vertical integrated fish company that exist today, from your fish hold to Mr. Patterson supermarket!
So mister business man considering the price that you received in 2014 to the price that you received in 2015 to the price that currently the same as both years at the supermarket or better , don't you think someone is making a lot of money on those nice sockeye that you took such good care of!
So when we were going thru negotiations in 1976 , one of the old fishermen spoke that $.01/lb @ 100'000 /lb's is a $1000.00! Another old business man told me that if you take care of your penny's your dollars take care of themselves . So I would think belonging to the best integrated company in Bristol bay that you might to negotiate a better price because in my business world your throwing money away! AIFMA/BBFA is set up for you to do that, sign up your hole camp, The power to negotiate. I believe that most people here on this comment column would like a bottom line price on the cost of doing business, just like you get on your Crab, pollack , halibut, blackcod and any other business that you wallow in.
Thank you for your time , I hope I crossed my T's an capitalized my I's . Spell check Wesley ?
Have fished in Bristol Bay,Area M and south east,the problem with the bay is you have a shit product.
12:16, for the most part you are bang-on.
While efforts to improve quality are underway, Aifma has had an opportunity to lead the way for decades, and they have not. They called themselves a "marketing" association, but never once, as an organization, have they focused on a quality campaign or having something of quality "to" market.
They have certainly demonstrated leadership in pointing the finger at everyone else for not paying them enough; huge leadership when it comes to playing the role of the victim; award-winning leadership when it comes to whining and complaining. If this is their strategic plan, it has certainly served them well, because I can't think of anything else that would define their legacy. No wonder they want to re-brand themselves.
12:16 PM..........calling it a shit product is a bit over the top. The fact that a large percentage of the Bay catch goes into cans is not reflective of quality, but more so of the processors lack of investment in filleting and freezing. And this failure also suppresses price. The notable exceptions are Leader Creek and Silver Bay.
That being said, the best handled Bristol Bay red is not going to equal the best handled Area M red, southeast red, etc. And therein lies the big problem for BBRSDA. How do you promote that?
I'm not sure about all of this, but I do find myself intrigued by the hole camp mentioned by 7:57.
Short run no fat BB sockeye, is okay, if you bleed and rsw/ice asap. Anything over 500 lbs in brailer bag is not the quality the market is looking for. RSW all BB boats and bleed all your fish, and then wait and see how the market responds. Get a grip and bring up your quality, that is the future. Also, quit your whining!
2:40 PM....you are right. There shouldn't be a boat without RSW. But, what will the processors do? Well, until they invest in their plants a big percentage of the fish still goes in the can. Price to the fleet doesn't change until the processors change. Fleet and processors need to invest together or you get sub $1.00 price and there is nothing BBRSDA or ASMI or anyone else can do to improve the value.
That IS funny!
But seriously, hole camp, how much for a member to enter the assoc.
Post a Comment